FAMILIES without borders - I.

• Author: Freundlich, Madelyn

International adoption has grown rapidly over the past decade. For a variety of reasons - related both to the growing interest in adopting children from other countries by families in so-called "receiving" countries and to socioeconomic and cultural factors in "sending countries"-the number of children adopted internationally has doubled since 1992. The growth in international adoption has been tied to its demographics. As a rule, though there are exceptions, the children to be adopted reside in less developed countries, while the adults seeking to adopt are citizens of developed nations. Economic conditions, which place increased pressure on families and their Governments, have played a significant role in the international adoptions of children from Latin America, Asia and most recently Eastern Europe and Russia. Higher levels of infertility and the steady decline in the number of domestic infants available for adoption have played a role in the increased interest in international adoption on the part of adults in the United States and Europe.

International adoption has been the subject of intense debate with regard to both its implications for children and families and its impact on the international community of nations.

The lack of clearly defined and regulated procedures to deal with the growing demand for international adoption has led. to questions about the extent to which it can and does promote positive outcomes for children and international understanding. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect to Intercountry Adoption (He Convention) have attempted to resolve many of the issues by creating standards for international adoption. The ultimate effect of these efforts in fostering positive relationships among nations remains to be seen.

International adoption poses challenges to international understanding because it is intertwined with national interests of countries where children reside - emigration, protection of the country's human resources, and the country's image in relation to its ability to care for its citizens. From a national perspective, international adoption may be viewed negatively. It may be seen as a demographic threat as children leave the country; it may be perceived as another manifestation of exploitation of poorer nations by more affluent ones; there may be a sense that national pride is injured by what...